TGME Round 1: A New Hope Vs. To Kill a Mocking Bird

[SmilinJackRoss]

I could care less about the "importance" or "impact" a film has had, I look at all of them at face value.  And taking these two films at face value, TKaM takes the cake hands down.  IMO.

[Nick]

What do you mean by "face value." Not trying to come down on your opinion or anyting, just curious. Is it the types of movies they are, one being an epic space adventure, the other a tense courtroom drama, or some other facor?

[Tripe]

No they don't, Craft and Art are both about production, just because somethings a finshed product doesn't mean the Craft elements and the Art elements have become fused.

I don't believe that "art" must be about production. At least not in the same way as the term "craft." Art can, and usually does, refer to the final product, especially when you use the two terms separately. For example, while you could technically say "the art of basket weaving," i'd argue that it's more correct to say "the craft of basket weaving."

I agree it is more correct to say the craft of basket weaving. I simply mean that they both can be descriptive of production, not solely but since you were talking about a finished product you are talking there about the production part of art.

The way you blur the use of these two terms seems like an even better argument that they do, indeed, become fused to create a final piece of artwork.

Nope, not blurring anything. Like I said the craft and the art elements remain separate and in ANH the craft elements are predominate.

Without the craft, you can not produce the art.

Yes you can, outsider art for example is often produced without any technical, or craft, skills.

If you were to remove any of the innovative techniques used during the filming of Star Wars, you simply would not end up with the same piece of art. I absolutely believe that they are fused... and that the final product is the proof.

Not removing a damn thing, simply saying that ultimately it's a work of craft more than art since there's little originality in the story, so while it would be a shoe-in for the top ten most technically innovative films, it's not really that great a work of art.

Craft is very important but since this is more about the art of film making, as far as I can see, I'm going  to have to give it to a film in which the story and other art elements of the film are more important than the technical processes of making it.

[Rude]

I could care less about the "importance" or "impact" a film has had, I look at all of them at face value.

Yeah, i don't think anyone is saying that we should vote for a film because it's more "important" in some way. I just love discussing film, and when else are we going to get the opportunity to compare two completely different movies like these?!!!

But at some point we have to ask ourselves "Why?" Why pick one film over another?

We can say something as simple as... "i enjoy watching that film more than the other." But what is it, specifically, about that film brings us more enjoyment?

Some people actually enjoy watching a film simply because of the cinematography, or the lead actor, or because it was a historically important film. A few film teachers i've had love to watch certain films because of what they know about the film, rather than what is actually on-screen. It informs their viewing and, in some way, actually allows them to more fully enjoy the film itself.

I don't always believe that's the best way to vote for which film is the "best" in some of these random match-ups. But it's certainly as valid as any other. And the whole point of this thing is to spark discussion anyway~

We all have our reasons... might as well discuss them.

-Rude

[Tripe]

I could care less about the "importance" or "impact" a film has had, I look at all of them at face value.

Yeah, i don't think anyone is saying that we should vote for a film because it's more "important" in some way. I just love discussing film, and when else are we going to get the opportunity to compare two completely different movies like these?!!!

But at some point we have to ask ourselves "Why?" Why pick one film over another?

We can say something as simple as... "i enjoy watching that film more than the other." But what is it, specifically, about that film brings us more enjoyment?

Some people actually enjoy watching a film simply because of the cinematography, or the lead actor, or because it was a historically important film. A few film teachers i've had love to watch certain films because of what they know about the film, rather than what is actually on-screen. It informs their viewing and, in some way, actually allows them to more fully enjoy the film itself.

I don't always believe that's the best way to vote for which film is the "best" in some of these random match-ups. But it's certainly as valid as any other. And the whole point of this thing is to spark discussion anyway~

We all have our reasons... might as well discuss them.

-Rude

And that i absolutely agree with, personally for me in this match up I'm going to TKAMB because by the criteria I judge a film it score higher.

[bettertomorrowamy]

Well my criteria for voting is:

Could I or have I watched this movie multiple times without getting bored.  I'm not saying this is the best way to decide, but I could read To Kill A Mockingbird multiple times but I would never read Star Wars multiple times.  Therefore I would rather read TKAM and watch Star Wars.

[Johnny Unusual]

Both films are great, but I voted for Star Wars not for the impact it had on film, but for the impact it had on me.  My love for it has faded over the years, partly because it's been so ridiculously lionized by the nerd community (and the prequels didn't help), but despite this and the films flaws, it has such an energy and has created an imaginative look that's still very effective today (despite being hampered by that special edition crap).

Still, I'm also sort of glad that To Kill a Mockingbird is doing so well, as it is a beautiful and haunting movie.  I think I like the book better though.  It's not that the film ruined anything, but I knew the story going in, so the impact wasn't as great.

[Tyrant]

Ooooh, finally. Two films I could practically recite word for word.

Although Star Wars is indeed awesome, and it cannot be denied as being an absolute cultural phenomena, there are things I love in film that are not as evident in it as in To Kill A Mockingbird. Gregory Peck is one of those things.

Edit: Atticus Finch has always been one of my heroes.

[mrbasehart]

I chose To Kill a Mockingbird.  It's one of the best films about children, but not for children, I've seen.

ANH is a good film, but I wonder how many people will think that in future generations, when the nostalgia factor of the movie has waned by the adults who saw it as children and grew up with the characters.

[a pretty girl is like]

I chose To Kill a Mockingbird.  It's one of the best films about children, but not for children, I've seen.

ANH is a good film, but I wonder how many people will think that in future generations, when the nostalgia factor of the movie has waned by the adults who saw it as children and grew up with the characters.

My feelings exactly.

For me, Star Wars is now a children's movie.  It wasn't always but as my tastes change (I'd hate to say matured because there's an air of condescension with that word), I've had to start thinking of Star Wars in a new light.   I love it but I'm willing to separate movies I love and movies that are actually well-crafted pieces of art.

[wurwolf]

Didn't see the movie version of To Kill a Mockingbird, but the book was a piece of shit. I voted for Star Wars.

[Tripe]

Oooh trouble and strife in the pretty-wurwolf household

[wurwolf]

Oooh trouble and strife in the pretty-wurwolf household

Always is.

[Nick]

Wow, this is a really tight race. This could go down all the way to the two-week deadline. It's exciting I tell ya!

P.S.: Is Greg gone? Or will there be other matchups?

[GregMcduck]

No, I'm still here, but since I'm kind of the forum joke at the moment, I'm keeping my head a little low. There will be more matchups, I promise.